Dispensing cap



Jan. 21, 1969 .1. w. ANDERSON 3,422,997

DISPENSING CAP Filed Oct. 4. 1967 FIG.5

INVENTOR. JOHN W. ANDERSON BY J ,w%a w Wham/[WW4 ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A dispensing cap so constructed as to move along an are relative to the longitudinal axis of the spout of the container with which the cap is used. The cap is provided with a closing recess and an outlet aperture transversely adjacent such recess. Opening and closing of the container is accomplished by lateral arcuate movement of the cap relative to the spout, which places in register with the spout either the outlet aperture or closing recess. The cap is anchored to the spout by means of a track located interiorly of the cap body and in which rides an annular rib on the container spout.

Background 0 the invention The packaging of myriad household and industrial goods in liquid, semi-liquid, powdered or granulated state is increasingly effected today by the use of rigid, semirigid, or collapsible containers having an outlet spout relatively smaller in diameter than the overall diameter of the container. These packaging techniques are use to the exclusion of boxes, bags, wide-mouthed jars, etc. because of the increased ability to meter and measure the contained goods in controllable proportions by means of the spout.

A large number of cap-like structures adapted to be inter-changeably used with spouted containers have been proposed as means to aid in opening and closing the container spout without the need, for example, to unscrew a threaded cap. In addition, these cap structures have attempted to increase the efliciency of the spouts inherent measuring or metering qualities but with minimal success.

Ideally, a dispensing cap for use with a spouted container should have the following qualities: (1) low manufacturing cost (and therefore preferably of unitary construction); (2) ease of operation yet suflicient resistance to opening and closing should be offered to prevent the average infant or small child from inadvertently opening the cap; (3) it is preferable that only one hand of the user be required to actuate the dispensing cap from the open to closed position; (4) the dispensing cap should not interfere with the inherent measuring properties the container-spout combination may possess; and (5) the dispensing cap should offer a construction which will avoid accumulation of the contents of the container on or in the cap as the contents are expelled from the container.

With these qualities in mind, the prior art has presented a variety of dispensing caps which, although workable, have been able to meet only a portion of the requirements and/ or qualities found desirable by the consuming public. Prior art devices have generally been of a two piece construction wherein a base portion fits over the container spout and supports a slidable portion capable of opening and closing the spout outlet. In addition, this slidable opening and closing portion, upon actuation thereof, is capable of movement only in a flat horizontal plane at generally right angles to the longitudinal axis of the spout. This arrangement often requires the user to employ two hands in opening and closing the spout; that is, one hand must grasp the container while the other reaches over and around the container and dispensing cap to actuate the closure means. Such an arrangement can often hinder the "ice ability of the user to accurately meter out the containers goods; this is especially true if the container itself must be tilted or turned in order to eject its contents. Further, many prior art devices do not permit expulsion of the contained goods via the existing container spout but force the goods through a portion of the dispensing cap itself. This construction, therefore, continually exposes the contents of the goods being ejected to the surfaces of the dispensing cap. Such exposure can, of course, not only effect the sterility of the goods but will generally cause an accumulation of the goods in or on the dispensing cap which can readily result in contamination, odors, and so on.

a Summary of the invention This invention concerns a dispensing cap having an arcuate conformation in longitudinal section for use with a container having a spouted outlet. The dispensing cap has a sealing recess terminating within the cap body and an outlet aperture extending through the cap body. The sealing recess and outlet aperture are transversely adjacent to and in lateral communication with each other and originate from a common cavity in the cap body. Therefore, by actuation of the dispensing cap it is possible to close the spout outlet by placing the sealing recess thereover or exposing the spout outlet by placing the outlet aperture thereover.

At the juncture of the sealing recess and outlet aperture the inner walls (defining the recess and aperture) of the cap body are directed inwardly of the body to form a necked portion. The span between the peripheral edges of the necked portion is made smaller than the external periphery of the container spout so that movement of the cap from open to closed position (and vice versa) requires that the necked edges flex, snap past the spout, and releasably lock the cap in the open or closed position. By constructing the cap of semi-flexible plastic the required flex of the neck edges is assured. To actuate the cap a certain amount of external pressure must be provided by the user. The amount of pressure required can, of course, be varied by the extreme to which the necked portion is proportioned and can be gauged to require an amount of force necessary to actuate the cap from the closed to open position of a greater amount than possessed by an infant or small child who might be injured by the contents of the container.

The inner periphery of the cap body which defines the sealing recess and outlet aperture has a continuous, recessed track which is arcuate in side elevation. This track coacts with a raised portion or annular rib on the outer surface of the container spout and maintains the cap in register with the spout, assures proper alignment of both the sealing recess and outlet aperture relative to the spout, and allows arcuate, not straight horizontal, movement of the cap relative to the longitudinal axis of the spout.

Since many different kinds of containers have as many different kinds of spouts, the sealing recess and outlet aperture should be of a complementary shape to that of the spout. Therefore, in operation, the dispensing cap would be placed over the container spout with the annular rib of the spout in register with and riding in the track of the cap. To open or close the spout, the cap is pushed in the appropriate direction past the neck portion of the track until the spout is seated in either the sealing recess or outlet aperture.

The arcuate conformation of the cap enables the user to grasp a suitably sized container with one hand or in the palm of one hand and actuate the dispensing cap with the fingers of that same hand. The users other hand is therefore free to hold other implements or perform other acts.

In addition, the outlet aperture of the dispensing cap preferably terminates at a point equal to or lower than the opening of the container spout. Thus, all accumulation on or in the dispensing cap of the contents of the container upon ejection is eliminated.

Description the drawings but showing Description of the preferred embodiment FIG. 1 shows a dispensing cap embodying the principles of this invention positioned on a container 12. It is to 'be understood that the dispensing cap 10 disclosed herein may be used on any number of containers whether rigid, semi-rigid, or collapsible, which use a spout as the primary means for removal of the contents thereof.

FIG. 2 shows the dispensing cap 10 of this invention in the closed position, that is, covering or closing the aperture 13 (FIG. 4) of container spout 14. Cap 10 is of arcuate conformation in longitudinal section and has a sealing recess 18 and an outlet aperture 24 transversely adjacent and in lateral communication with each other and originating from a common cavity 25 on the underside by cap 10. Sealing recess 18 extends into but terminates within the cap 10 whereas outlet aperture 24 extends completely through the dispensing cap 10- whereby closed and opened positions, respectively, are made available. Both sealing recess 18 and outlet aperture 24 are preferably complementary in shape to spout 14.

Sealing recess 18 terminates within the cap 10 at sealing surface 20. Although FIGS. 2 and 3 show sealing surface as a separate but integral portion of sealing cap 10, it is understood that sealing surface 20 can easily be made integral with and of the same material as sealing cap 10. In addition, dispensing cap 10 may have adjacent the sealing surface 20 a lip 22 which will coact with the sides of spout 14 adjacent the aperture 13 of spout 14 to provide a releasable latch or lock means which frictionally engages the sides of spout 14. This would, of course,

tainer contents when the cap is in the closed position.

Cap body 10 has an internal, continuous, recessed track 26 intermediate the length of both sealing recess 18 and outlet aperture 24. As will be noted the track, in side elevation, is formed generally along an arc. Track 26 receives an annular rib 16 or other raised portion of any desirable configuration provided on the external periphery of container spout 14 and which rides slidably in the track. Track 26 has primarily three functions: (1) to serve as a guide as cap 10 is moved from the open and closed position; (2) to prevent cap 10 from being removed from the spout by forces directed along the longitudinal axis of the spout; and (3) to ensure and complement the arcuate movement of the cap 10 (as more fully described below).

With reference now to FIG. 3 the dispensing cap 10 is shown in the open position. 'It should be noted that partly by reason of its arcuate conformation, cap 10 in the area defining aperture 24 terminates below, or rearwardly of, the outermost portion of container spout 14 and spout aperture 13. In this manner, spout 14 itself is used to dispense the contents of the container and accumulation of the contents either in or on q'uently, contamination, decay and other adverse effects resulting from the accumulation in the cap of the ejected material are eliminated.

As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the recessed track 26 of cap 10 has a necked portion 28 extending inwardly of the cap body at the juncture of sealing recess 18 and outlet aperture 24. The span across the inner edges of necked portion 28, on either side of spout 14, is preferably smaller than the outer periphery of spout 14. This ensures that in order to move the dispensing cap from the open to closed position it will be necessary to apply pressure of sufiicient magnitude to bias the flexible cap 10 and necked portion 28 edges outwardly. Thus, inadvertent opening or closing of the dispensing cap by small children, for example, is avoided and the cap may be releasably locked in either the open or closed positions. Loss or leakage of the container contents during shipping and handling is also avoided by this construction.

It has been found that moving the cap through an are or opening and closing facilitates one-handed operation of the device. Thus, it is quite easy to open or expose aperture 13 of spout 14 by grasping the container 12 with, for example, the right hand and expose spout 14 by pressing the thumb against the portion of dispensing cap 10 defining outlet aperture 24. To close spout 14, the user may press against the portion of cap 10 defining sealing recess 18 by placement of the forefinger on this portion and moving cap 10 into the closed position. Movement in either direction of the cap 10- is resisted by necked portion 18, lip 22, and the degree of severity along which track 26 is arced. Thus, the amount of pressure necessary to actuate cap 10 may be adjusted to accommodate a particular users requirements or perhaps safety by: (l) decreasing or increasing the span of the edges of necked portion 28; (2) decreasing or increasing the bias of lip 22 on spout 14 thereby reducing or amplifying the frictional grip of lip 22 on spout 14; and (3) decreasing or increasing the severity of the arcuate conformation of the cap 10 and/or track 26 which would reduce or amplify the binding of raised portion 16 as it rides in track 26.

It is understood that the cap 10 as described above may assume any one of a variety of external configurations which may suit a particular users requirements without departing from the essentials of the invention. Similarly, considerable latitude is available in the choice of materials from which. the cap is produced. It is preferable that the cap be of a unitary construction using a semi-flexible material (such as plastic).

For ease of description the principles of the invention have been set forth in connection with but a single illustrated embodiment showing my dispensing cap. It is not my intention that the illustrated embodiment nor the terminology employed in describing it be limiting inasmuch as variations in these may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Rather, I desire to be restricted only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cap adapted to slidably open and close a dispensing spout of a container comprising:

a cap body;

an inner portion of said cap body defining a sealing recess and an outlet aperture;

said recess and said outlet aperture being transversely adjacent to and in lateral communication 'with each other and originating from a common cavity in said cap body;

said recess terminating within said cap body and said aperture extending through said cap body whereby positioning of said aperture over said spout opens the spout and permits the contents of said container to be removed and positioning of said recess over said spout closes said spout;

said cap body having a necked portion which extends cap 10 is avoided. Conseinwardly of said cap body at the juncture of said recess and aperture;

said cap body further having an internal, continuous,

recessed track in the portion thereof defining said recess and said aperture, said track being generally arouate in side elevation;

said track being positioned intermediate the length of said recess and aperture and being adapted to receive slidably a complementally shaped raised portion on the spout of the container whereby said cap may be slidably actuated to open and close the spout.

2. The cap of claim 1 in which said cap is of generally arcuate conformation in longitudinal sections.

3. The dispensing cap of claim 2 in combination with a container having a spout thereon;

the raised portion of said spout being an annular rib intermediate the length of said spout and slidably received in said recessed track,

4. The dispensing cap of claim 3 wherein said sealing recess and outlet aperture are complementary in shape to said spout.

5. The dispensing cap of claim 4 wherein the lateral span of said necked portion is smaller than the external periphery of said spout but sufficiently large to permit movement of said spout therepast, thus releasably to lock said cap in either the open or the closed position.

6. The dispensing cap of claim 5 wherein said recess terminates with a sealing surface adapted selectively to overlie the open end of said spout;

a lip at the edge of said sealing surface laterally adjacent said outlet aperture; said lip projecting toward the underside of said cap and thereby forming a resilient latch and seal means so that when said sealing recess is positioned over said container spout said lip will frictionally grasp and seal said spout. 7. The dispensing cap of claim 2 in which the cap and the track in said cap are conformed generally along the same radius.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,418,659 4/1947 Myder 22060 X 2,493,814 1/1950 Groody 222-92 2,689,064 9/1954 Willis 222-92 2,764,829 10/1956 Kingman 222-92 X 2,857,083 10/1958 Masterson 222542 X 3,022,925 2/1962 Daniell 222-542 X 3,123,334 3/1964 Hitz 251147 ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

NORMAN L. STACK, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 222-92, 562, 572; 215-41; 239-579; 251326 

